Past and Present (or The One Where Daniel Falls For A Sociopath)

[superbadgirl]

I don't have a lot of good things to say about this episode. For me what sticks in the craw is not how quickly Daniel fell for Ke'ra (and just what is with this show and apostrophes, anyway?), but the fact the actress who plays her is atrocious. I'm biased. I didn't like her as Mulder's sister, either. There was more chemistry in the corridor scene between Jack and Daniel than any between Ke'ra and Daniel, and they weren't even looking at each other, let alone snogging. Which I wanted them to do at that point. (C'mon, am I alone there?)

Maybe it's not the bad acting. Maybe it's because I can't help but remember how wonderful Bonnie Bartlett as Linea was.

*shrugs*

The story itself was not without problems, but was vaguely interesting. How very Linea to want to live longer, wreak havoc on as many other worlds as possible. She was a capable villian, and that might be another reason this episode does not make my favorites list. They didn't do her justice with this, or with the conclusion they very quickly tied a big, red bow on at the end. Ke'ra showed signs of Linea-ish behaviour before having her brain wiped again, but they really thought it was a good idea to just send her out there and trust her latent sociopathic tendencies wouldn't resurface? Now, had they brought her back again and made her as bad as ever, I might have forgiven them this blunder. I would have even tolerated the bad acting. But they didn't.

It wasn't all bad, mind you. Daniel was in his S3 yumminess. My WORD, I could eat him up with a spoon. It started with the vague hand gestures when they first arrived. The deal was sealed when he did that adorable little twitch upon first meeting Ke'ra.

There were major sparks between him and Teal'c, and by sparks I mean friendshippy. Bless Teal'c for being so protective, after Daniel pulled the Teal'c/Linea comparision - which, for the record, I have no objection to. I seem to recall Daniel getting a ton of flack for that, but his argument was not without merit. It was pretty harsh, but it's easy to take into consideration Daniel's still reeling from Sha're's loss and he genuinely likes this blonde moppet for reasons I can't fathom. Ahem. Sorry, there I go again. I don't know that I consider myself a Daniel cheerleader for that scene, but I don't crucify him for it, either. Our heroes aren't infallible, and Daniel has shown in the past a bit of an arrogant streak. He can be ruthless.

Good Sam/Janet. I feel like Sam took a bit of a back seat here, and that's okay. Sometimes that happens.

Ah, poor Jack. Like Daniel, he doesn't come off too shiny himself. Maybe it was payback for the way Daniel used Teal'c, but the corridor scene is ouchie in all the right ways. "Look, I'm not saying the first woman you've fallen for since Sha're isn't a peach, but if she remembers who she is, you'll be the first to go." I half expected Daniel to turn around and bop him one. Or, y'know, for Jack to pull Daniel around and lay a big kiss and hug on him and tell him he's looking for love in all the wrong places. The slasher comes out of me, what can I say?. ;)

And I still want to know Orner's wife was the only one who walked around like a little old lady. Seriously, her movements screamed someone older than she was, but everyone else seemed normal.

This episode was just okay. Next week, Jolinar's Memories!

Comments

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have minded if this ep were after the "Jolinar in hell" duo-eps.

But yeah, follow-up... hmmm.

[superbadgirl]

The timing wouldn't have been a serious issue, I think, had they cast a better actress. It hurt me to watch her, the way watching the old Star Wars movies makes me hurt now (but not as watching the latest batch).

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I didn't have a problem with Daniel being attracted to Kera. Classic rebound (I can't recall what's it's generally called when the spouse has died rather than left)... which just made the whole Unending crap that much less believable.

My only problem with the episode was letting Kera/Linea free. While the Vians might have been able to corral her, I think they *really* missed a bet by not having Linea show up again later.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm not understanding - how did it make Unending even less believable than it already was (in an emotional sense)? Feeling slow on this one.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

His comment to Vala that he hadn't moved on from his wife.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Maybe Daniel lied to Vala? It's not like she's a champion for telling the truth. Could be he just didn't want to let her know the real reason he was keeping his distance from her?

[tejas.livejournal.com]

I think it's more likely the writers are idiots. :-) The whole episode was crap from the teaser on. My 14 year old could have written a better script.

[superbadgirl]

Didn't I say what bothered me wasn't the timing? *scratches head*

I could have believed it as rebound had they cast the role better.

I didn't see Unending, so I can't comment.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

You might have and I might have missed it or misread it. :-)

The actress doesn't bother me like she bothers you, though. But I know what that's like. Jorja Fox on CSI bothered me from the first scene I saw her in. It wasn't *Sara* so much as it was *Fox*. Her expressions and the way she speaks just rub me the wrong way. Might even be a directorial thing and I might like her in another role.

You missed *nothing* by not seeing Unending. It sucked.

[superbadgirl]

Eh. I'm probably just tetchy because I yet again have a major headache. *sigh*

Sara could've been a great character. Personally, I rather think Jorja Fox got screwed over and should have left long before she did. But, yeah, something about her is off-putting.

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

Daniel was in his S3 yumminess. My WORD, I could eat him up with a spoon. It started with the vague hand gestures when they first arrived. The deal was sealed when he did that adorable little twitch upon first meeting Ke'ra.

Oh my! Yes! Season 3 Daniel is probably my favorite Daniel. :-)

I remember mostly liking this episode, but not loving it. I didn't like that it was directly after FIAD, IIRC, though.

[superbadgirl]

S3 Daniel will always win. :)

[nausica2.livejournal.com]

I have exactly the same problem with that episode. The actress was so bad that it ruined the story.

She showed up in SGA on season 3, and she's still bad. Ouch.

Still, Season 3 Daniel is the best Daniel. :)

[superbadgirl]

I feel kind of bad blaming her, but she's so terrible!